SEPANG (Malaysia), Nov 21: In the presence of seasoned race drivers competing from all over the world, Pakistan’s hope Adam Khan faces an uphill task when the third round of the ongoing season (2007-08) of AIGP World Cup of Motorsport takes place here on Sunday. This will be preceded by practice and qualifying round.

Completed in 1998, the 5.54km Sepang circuit is located 60km south of Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. The beauty of circuit is not its length or its corners – but its width. Sepang is the widest circuit on the A1GP calendar.

The 22-year-old British-born Khan of Pakistani origin is currently lying at 21st position among the 22 competing nations at the end of four races that took place at Zandvoort (Holland) and Brno (Czech Republic) respectively in the year.

Lady luck did not smile on Khan at the Zandvoort Circuit Park track. In the Sprint race, he was trapped behind a train of slower cars which continued to the chequered flag where the Pakistan car crossed the line just 0.2 seconds behind China and three seconds ahead of Canada in 18th place.

After making an aggressive start in the Feature race that followed, Khan’s car collided with A1 Team Lebanon. But despite the damage to his vehicle, he secured 17th place in the event.

At Brno, Khan settled for 15th in Sprint race and crossed the line at the 20th position in the feature race.

But the dashing Adam Khan should not be under-estimated because of his average faring this year. Representing Pakistan in the inaugural year of A1GP (2005-06) he finished with a best result of fifth place at the Shanghai International Circuit.

The same year he eased to seventh position in the Sprint race and eighth in qualifying at Great Britain.

Contrary to the opening two venues, Khan is familiar with driving the A1GP car at Sepang. “I enjoyed the Malaysian track; its fast and flowing with a great atmosphere. Last time we were there we had mixed fortunes. We were doing well in the first race and were on for a fifth place finish until a gearbox problem slowed us. In the second one we were hit from behind – by the Indian car! – and that put us out of the Feature race,” said Khan on the eve of the third round of the season’s calendar and the first in Asia.

Meanwhile, two triumphs in the current season has lifted A1 Team New Zealand into the top place. It has amassed 37 points and enjoying a slender one point lead over South Africa (36).

Starting from fourth position in the first season, the Kiwis have shown considerable improvement. It leaped to second place behind Germany in the last season.

Though Great Britain and Netherlands are tied at 31 points, the former enjoys an edge (3rd place) with a win under its belt in the current season.

Defending champion Germany are in the ninth spot with 14 points to their credit. France, winner of the first season, is placed fifth.

In a latest development, Ferrari has struck a six-year agreement with A1GP to manufacture and supply all A1GP engines and will consult on the design and manufacture of all A1GP car chassis for use in season four (2008-09) and beyond.